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Collecting Darters in Texas

Started by Guest_FlyFisher_* , Aug 24 2010 03:35 PM

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8 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_FlyFisher_*

Guests

Posted 24 August 2010 - 03:35 PM

Hello, I am new to the site. I do not have any aquariums currently but I would like to set up a native aquarium in the future. In the past, I have only kept tropical fish because of their availability but I am interested in keeping native fish. Does anybody know of some collection sites near the DFW area for darters? If not, are there some good collection sites in the hill country?

Other questions:
What darter species are found in Texas and what streams do they reside in?
What are the regulations for collecting fish in the state of Texas?

Edited by FlyFisher, 24 August 2010 - 03:41 PM.

#2 Michael Wolfe

Board of Directors

North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage

Posted 24 August 2010 - 05:30 PM

Other questions:
What darter species are found in Texas and what streams do they reside in?
What are the regulations for collecting fish in the state of Texas?

Welcome to the forum... you are in the right spot and you are asking the right quesitons... let's handle the important one first... check out this link (which is actually right here on our site as well) which will point you to the Texas fishing regulations. Looks to me that Texas has a clear definition of what is a game fish and has clear links to what is threatened and endangered. I would of course recommend reading the regulations carefully, but in general it looks like you will be OK if you follow a few simple rules. http://forum.nanfa.o...ng-regulations/

As far as species, you should get a field guide or at least check out this site
http://www.bio.txsta...ishes/index.htm
We had these guys as speakers at our convention a few years back and they have done a very nice job (I bought the book). This will give you the right start on learning about the fish in your area. And is a cheap investment (I think it is only $23 bucks... not bad at all).

As far as collecting sites, we have a few texas members that may know and speak up.

Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

#3 Guest_FlyFisher_*

Guests

Posted 24 August 2010 - 05:54 PM

Thanks for the information Michael. I have a different field guide for Texas coming in the mail already but I will check that one out in the future. It looks like it covers a lot of fish species.

#4 Guest_bumpylemon_*

Guests

Posted 24 August 2010 - 06:08 PM

http://www.nanfa.org.../Fishlist41.pdf

found this by googling darters of texas

PERCHES
Mud Darter Etheostoma asprigene
Bluntnose Darter Etheostoma chlorosomum
Western Sand Darter Etheostoma clarum
Fountain Darter Etheostoma fonticola E
Swamp Darter Etheostoma fusiforme
Slough Darter Etheostoma gracile
Rio Grande Darter Etheostoma grahami T
Harlequin Darter Etheostoma histrio
Greenthroat Darter Etheostoma lepidum
Goldstripe Darter Etheostoma parvipinne
Cypress Darter Etheostoma proeliare
Orangebelly Darter Etheostoma radiosum
Orangethroat Darter Etheostoma spectabile
Scaly Sand Darter Etheostoma vivax
Redfin Darter Etheostoma whipplei
Logperch Percina caprodes
Texas Logperch Percina carbonaria
Bigscale Logperch Percina macrolepida
Blackside Darter Percina maculata T
Dusky Darter Percina sciera
River Darter Percina shumardi

Edited by bumpylemon, 24 August 2010 - 06:08 PM.

#5 Guest_FlyFisher_*

Guests

Posted 24 August 2010 - 06:46 PM

Wow! I didn't know that there were so many darter species in Texas. I just found out about darters so I didn't look for them when I was fishing in the South Llano River earlier this summer. I read that there are some darters that can be found there. Does anybody know of any clear streams closer to Dallas where I can find darters on the list in the above post?

#6 Guest_jblaylock_*

Guests

Posted 25 August 2010 - 07:15 AM

Save this page to your internet favorites. It is very helpful. You can zoom in and select your river drainage to view the fish species.

NatureServe

Sound like you need to get a tank asap, as soon as you start catching darters, you'll be the one who's hooked....not the fish (cheesey). Also, don't forget about minnows, shiners, and daces, they will fill the middle water colummn in your tank.

Edited by jblaylock, 25 August 2010 - 07:17 AM.

#7 Guest_FlyFisher_*

Guests

Posted 26 August 2010 - 11:15 PM

That's a cool website. It's kind of hard to zoom in to where you want though. I found out that there are several darter species near me in Plano. I can't set up a tank right now because I am away at college in Lubbock. I did find out that red river pupfish are found near Lubbock in the Brazos River headwaters. I may go looking for them sometime. Does anybody know a particular creek to find them in?

Thanks for the link!

#8 Guest_Uland_*

Guests

Posted 27 August 2010 - 06:24 AM

That's a cool website. It's kind of hard to zoom in to where you want though. I found out that there are several darter species near me in Plano. I can't set up a tank right now because I am away at college in Lubbock. I did find out that red river pupfish are found near Lubbock in the Brazos River headwaters. I may go looking for them sometime. Does anybody know a particular creek to find them in?

Thanks for the link!

I think NANFA member Ed Bihary posted a link where the margins of the map aren't clipped off. I'll look for it later today.

#9 Guest_AussiePeter_*

Guests

Posted 27 August 2010 - 08:45 AM

Lubbock huh, that's too bad, not much water around there. You might go talk to the fish guy in the wildlife and fisheries dept, Chris Taylor. Not sure if he has done much "local" collecting or not, but he might be able to advise.

Cheers
Peter